Rasmussen Poll: 75% of Texas Voters Don’t Want To Pull State Out Of U.S.

Here’s a shocking poll for you. Rasmussen Reports finds that 75 percent Texans aren’t buying into the emerging talk radio political culture idea that the Obama administration is such a grave threat to the founding father’s original vision that Texas could one day seriously consider pulling out of the United States.

The suggestion has been dangled by Texas Gov. Rick Perry (said in a way to throw red meat to the party’s base but keep just enough deniability to pooh-pooh the idea that he meant how even a bowl of Jello would take it) and Fox News’ hottest new property, talk show host Glenn Beck. It now turns out that most Texas aren’t into raising the possibility of leaving the United States union if their chosen candidate or party loses:

Thirty-one percent (31%) of Texas voters say that their state has the right to secede from the United States and form an independent country.

However, the latest Rasmussen Reports poll in the state finds that if the matter was put to a vote, it wouldn’t even be close. Three-fourths (75%) of Lone Star State voters would opt to remain in the United States. Only 18% would vote to secede, and seven percent (7%) are not sure what they’d choose.

Texas Governor Rick Perry, in response to a reporter’s question about secession at a protest “tea party,” said Wednesday, “We’ve got a great union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that? But Texas is a very unique place, and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot.” The comment was widely reported in the media.

It was more than “just reported.” The fact that an elected official would even remotely dangle it would be unthinkable even five years ago. Barry Goldwater’s followers didn’t start talking about pulling out of the union in the face of the LBJ landslide, the whopping Democratic majority in Congress, and the resulting deluge of Great Society welfare-state big government legislation. And for all of the American left’s hatred of George Bush, there were no mainstream liberal leaders or even Air America hosts urging Massachusetts or California to pull out of the United States because Bush and the GOP were for a while in control. They didn’t even suggest it when White House political maven Karl Rove talked about building a permanent Republican majority.

What has changed?

The bottom line is that some GOP leaders and would-be leaders are now in a mad — nearly frantic — scramble to please the most conservative part of the Republican party’s conservative base and to make sure they don’t displease powerful talk show hosts who help them get…or lose…votes.

Some conservatives call such divisive and mega-polarizing rhetoric brave. But in reality it’s pandering — and belongs in a new book: Profiles In Lack Of Courage.

As a Texan, I certainly do not see a groundswell of support for serious secession. Mostly Ricky Perry's little stunt is being dismissed with mock outrage with a hint at sarcastic derision.

It has absolutely nothing to do with actual secession itself – and it has EVERYTHING to do with playing politics with an eye towards the 2010 gubernatorial elections (and most likely the 2012 pres election as well). He is actively promoting the new right-wing meme of states rights over federal interference, which has been playing very well among the Party of No members not only in Texas, but dozens of states around the country. Look no further than the silly '10th Amendment' stuff being tossed around for evidence of that.

But Texas does have a unique history when it comes to the question of secession. Texas was the only state that was its own country before joining the union, and had some rather interesting provisions in the original state constitution. One would allow the state to secede, another would allow the state to break up into five smaller states (as a way to get more political clout, this back during the time when slave states vs. free states was a big deal). These provisions are no longer in the state constitution, but are still part of the Texas popular culture and often students learn about it in Texas History class in junior high school. More info: http://www.texassecede.com/faq.htm

sassafra

“But Texas does have a unique history when it comes to the question of secession. Texas was the only state that was its own country before joining the union…”

uhhh…no.vermont, not texas, takes the distinction of being the first free republic to join the united states. the vermont free republic existed from 1777 – 1791 when it was admitted into the union as the 14th state. sorry texas, but us green mountain girls and boys were there first.

ondine

What Texans want is the Constitutional federal government guaranteed by the 10th Amendment. We are Citizens of Texas, not subjects of Washington and proud Americans because our State is a member of this great Union.